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“This effort is an extraordinary opportunity for the private sector to deepen its support for public education,” said Catherine Bessant, the foundation’s governing board chair and a senior Bank of America executive."

The Rev. Charles Kirkley of St. Paul's United Methodist Church asked for a bus, and Jim Hobbs, president of United Methodist Men — a volunteer group at the Kensington church — decided it should be financed entirely out of pancakes and sausage."

The Christian social-services group said its direct grant from the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley was set to drop to $171,000 next year, down 54 percent from three years ago. Salvation Army leaders “had to look at that and say, ‘What is happening with the relationship?’” said Maj. William Bode, a commander in the organization’s Massachusetts division."

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

How to Get Your Donors More Engaged | News for Social Entrepreneurs: "Generally, the answer on how to get a particular donor, or group of donors, more engaged isn’t a one shot ask, meeting, or phone call. Instead, the best way to get your donors more engaged is to develop a strong, organization-wide donor cultivation program that keeps your supporters informed and energized about your mission and current initiatives.

Your donor engagement plan should focus on the following five components:"

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Campaign Spotlight - Foundation and MTV Hope Campaign Is ‘Dead On’ With Youths - NYTimes.com: "The American Legacy Foundation in Washington, which sponsors the anti-smoking “Truth” campaign, is joining forces with the MTV cable channel for an initiative called “The Real World: Zombieville.” The project is based on “The Real World,” the long-running reality series on MTV that brings together a group of young adults to live in a house in locales that have ranged from Brooklyn to Hawaii to Paris."

U.S. Open Tennis 2010: Andrea Jaeger's 20 Years of Good Deeds - The Daily Fix - WSJ: "Leaving tennis allowed Ms. Jaeger, now 45, to dedicate herself full-time to philanthropy and her Little Star Foundation, which helps children in need and is best known for its work improving the quality of life for children with cancer. The Wall Street Journal caught up with Ms. Jaeger at the U.S. Open, where she is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Little Star with a campaign to get people from all walks of life to donate one hour of their pay to her charity."

Monday, August 30, 2010

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Nonprofit Newswire | Why Are Hispanics Underrepresented on Boards?: "August 28, 2010; Source: Dallas Morning News | Racial and ethnic minorities are underrepresented on nonprofit (and foundation!) governing boards, but Latinos are frequently more underrepresented than others. In Dallas, where there is a significant Hispanic population, nonprofits appear to be working on getting more Latinos into nonprofit governing positions. Why the underrepresentation? One of the two Latino board members at Mi Escuelita Preschool, a native of Monterrey, Mexico, ascribes the problem to the limited 'culture of philanthropy'"

“The foundation gives you a billboard that says, ‘These are the causes I support,’” Stacy Palmer, the Chronicle’s editor, said in a phone interview. “It certainly lets nonprofits know what’s available.”"

Telling a good story about your nonprofit is a way to pique the attention of past and potential donors, get publicity for your organization, and demonstrate the impact you are having. Stories give your visitors a reason to click through your web site and provide a reason to take action."

BYU's Grantwell program makes an impact | Mormon Times: "rantwell works for foundations and other large donors, offering grantmaking recommendations and assisting in strategic planning. Grantwell also provides opportunities to network with philanthropists, community leaders and other professional contacts. Ultimately, it prepares students for future work and service in the nonprofit sector.

Case in point: last year seven BYU MPA students, myself included, facilitated the distribution of $10,000 from the Peery Foundation to a nonprofit organization called Real Victory. This beneficial experience for the foundation, the nonprofit and the students took place because of this new, cutting-edge, student-run program. Grantwell bridges the gap between education and philanthropy, students and foundations."